Can piercing device



5785- 1967 F. s. CARAVELLA CAN PIERCING DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1964 Du O T N E V N FRANK S. C/-\ RA'VELLA Wm M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,305,924 CAN PIERCING DEVICE Frank S. Caravella, 4321 N. 13th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53209 Filed Nov. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 409,164 1 Claim. (Cl. 30-16) This invention is applicable to and is a continuation-inpart from my earlier filed and presently pending applications covering a Belt Buckle, Serial No. 143,763, filed October 9, 1961 now US. Patent No. 3,175,233, and Can Piercing Device, Serial No. 256,721, filed February 6, 1963, now abandoned.

The prime object of my invention is to provide a can piercing device that is equipped with a tongue formed to a radial contour, and having a concaved extending edge.

Another object is to provide a tongue formed radially for contact with the bead, formed on the upper edge of the can.

Still another object of my invention is to have the extending edge of the tongue formed to a radial concave, for engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the can.

A further object is to provide a concaved tongue that will conform to the outer periphery of the neck of a bottle, to permit better contact with the lower surface of the sealing cap, when removing the cap from the bottle.

The patent art covering can piercing devices, covers a diversified line of endeavor, and the improvement constituting my invention as described, illustrated and claimed herein, is a specific feature not heretofore adapted in the art, and performs a function made imperative by the recent changes in construction of beer cans, or the like.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with beer cans, or the like that a recent improvement in construction of beer cans incorporates a soft top, consisting of an end, or top made of non-ferrous metal such as aluminum alloys, and it has been proven that when a conventional type of piercing device is employed, that the can top being pierced will have a tendency to deflect downward during the piercing operation, and when the point of the piercing device is brought upward and outward of the triangular shaped opening, the edge of the piercing blade, when contacting the cut edge of the non-ferrous metal, will have a tendency to cause a ragged edge which has proven detrimental, by cutting the lips of the user when drinking the contents of the can directly from the can.

The device described herein constituting my invention, has at least one tongue portion formed radially and angularly to contact the circular bead at the top of the can to permit ease in bringing the point of the piercing blade, downward during the piercing operation, and providing radial contact of the tongue portion with the outer peripheral surface of the can immediately below the bead of the can, preventing any angular movement of the piercing blade, and assuring a smooth edge on both sides of the pierced opening.

While I have described a belt buckle, the features of my invention are applicable to any conventional type of can piercing, or bottle cap removing device, or belt buckle construction incorporating these features. None of the devices shown in the prior patent art employ a tongue with a radial, or rounded forward edge having angular sides that will prevent the device from moving angularly to one side or the other, causing a ragged edge in the opening produced in the non-ferrous metal, which has been proven detrimental.

The objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunc tion with the drawings in which:

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FIG. 1 is a perspective bottom view of the device which is shown constructed as a belt buckle;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the upper or top surface of the device constructed as a belt buckle;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as applied to a convcntional belt shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a conventional type of device having a can piercing arrangement on one end and a bottle cap removing arrangement on its other end;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the top surface of one end of the device shown in FIG. 4 incorporating the can piercing feature;

FIG. 6 is a side view of one end of the device applied to a conventional can shown in phantom, with the device in position prior to the piercing operation;

FIG. 7 is a similar view as shown in FIG. 6, with the device in a piercing position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top view of the piercing device in a piercing position on the top of a can, shown in phantom; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the piercing unit.

As stated before, my invention is based primarily on the tongues which act as the contacts with the can being pierced and the bottle from which the cap is to be removed.

There are many types of can piercing devices and bottle cap removers, but no stress is placed on the specific structure of the contact tongue, and it is the improvement of the form, shape and contour of the contact tongue that is so important for efiicient performance and function, and constitutes the basis of my invention, applicable to any conventional can piercing device or bottle cap remover.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring now to the same, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that the device consists of a body 20, shaped as a belt buckle, constructed integrally and incorporating a first projecting tongue portion 21 for use when the piercing point 22 is forced into the can, and a second projecting tongue portion 23 is employed for lifting the cap off a bottle, or the like, when supported by the contact member 24.

In FIGS. 4 to 9 inclusive, I show a conventional combination can piercing and bottle cap remover, consisting of a longitudinal body 25, having the piercing point 22 at one end and the contact member 24 at its other end.

The first projecting tongue portion 21 is formed to a radial contour at 26 to fit closely to the radial bead 27 of the can 28 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), for guiding the path of the point 22 as it enters the top 29 of the can 28. The tongue portion is also curved to conform to the peripheral curvature of the head 27 of the can, which curvature is concentric with the top of the can. Said tongue portion 21 is also provided with a concave recess 30 at its edge for contact with the outer periphery or surface of the can 28 (see FIG. 8), thereby preventing any sideways, or pivoted movement of the point or cutting blade 22, and the second tongue portion 23 on the bottle cap lifting end, is provided with a concave recess 31 to fit the outer surface of a bottle neck (not shown).

Attention is respectfully called to the fact that both the tongue portions 21 and 23 are bevelled with a pair of inclined surfaces 34a, 34b at their sides that are inclined toward each other (FIG. 8) and terminating at the concave surfaces 30 and 31 respectively, thereby eliminating the danger of side-sway and concentrating contact at the concave edges 30 and 31. It has been found that these bevelled sides in combination with the rest of the structure provide an anti-sway means particularly when the tongue portion pierces through the side of a can when I; opening same. When the sides of the tongue are straight I and the tongue pierces the side, the can opener has side- 1 sway when being removed thereby causing a ragged edge.

From the above description, it will become manifest 3 that my invention resides primarily in the form, shape 1 and contour of the tongue portions, as applied to any type of can piercing and bottle cap lifting devices, and

while I have described and illustrated my invention with 1 respect to a can, it is intended that my invention is to apply to any type of container wherein the same problems exist and it would be beneficial and efficient to have tongue portions having differently formed surfaces for containers having different peripheral shapes, and thus 1 having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

A can piercing device to be used in connection with 1 a can having a soft top comprising: at least one piercing 1 blade having a point at an extremity thereof, a body por- '1 tion extending from said piercing blade, and at least one 1 tongue portion extending from said body portion and being disposed to cooperate with said point by gripping the bead and peripheral surface of a can while said point pierces said can, said tongue portion extending toward said pointed tip and having a radially formed portion with a concave surface at its end, said tongue portion having bevelled sides that are inclined inwardly toward each References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,430,638 11/1947 Hoffman 7-l4.25 X 2,600,866 6/1952 Gaasbeck 714.25 X 2,611,950 9/1952 KasKouras 714.25 X 2,804,683 9/1957 Hammond -6 3,103,407 9/1963 Wolf 30-l6 FOREIGN PATENTS 556,853 5/1957 Belgium.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Examiner. 

